News / Transport
Emergency meeting to secure further £10m for Portishead rail line
The long-awaited reopening of the line between Bristol and Portishead could get the green light – if the allocation of an additional £10m is agreed.
Only a month after doubt was cast over the whole project amid fears over funding and inflation, the metro mayor has announced that the Government has agreed to invest £15m to see it proceed.
But only if the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) also agrees to stump up an additional £10m this week. Projected costs for the scheme have risen to £152m, creating a shortfall of £35.5m.
is needed now More than ever
Metro mayor Dan Norris has called an emergency meeting on Friday, where he will propose a motion calling on the leaders of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset councils to approve the allocation of a further £10m.
Dan Norris is calling an emergency meeting over the Portishead rail line – photo: WECA
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Norris said: “We are very nearly there, after months of considerable work by the combined authority and North Somerset – including me making the case to ministers. If on Friday we can get agreement from the other council leaders, it will be full steam ahead.
“With rampant inflation nipping at our heels I am anxious to move at pace. The railway line will provide fast links for people in south Bristol to Portishead and back. It is an important part of helping us reach our ambitious net zero targets.
“We have been talking about reopening the railway for far too long. Now we need to get on and deliver it. There may well be twists and turns yet to come, but this is significant step forwards towards achieving this ambition.”
The railway line, which closed to passengers six decades ago, was due to reopen in 2024 as part of a multi-million-pound scheme to improve public transport in the region.
But the project has faced delays due to “the slowness of the Development Consent Order and increases to the cost of energy, labour and construction materials”.
The railway line will provide fast links for people in south Bristol to Portishead and back – photo: Martin Booth
Main image: North Somerset Council
Read more: Uncertainty cast over future of Portishead rail line
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